https://www.scmp.com/rss/325289/feed Latest news and updates on healthcare and hospitals in Hong Kong, including medical issues, the impact of the city's ageing population, coronavirus pandemic and seasonal influenza outbreaks on the health system. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong’s Medical Council resumed a disciplinary inquiry on Friday over a suspected medical blunder that left a boy permanently disabled more than 16 years ago after its decision to terminate the hearing sparked a public outcry. Dr Sit Sou-chi was accused of failing to carry out all necessary and immediate investigations on newborn Li Yuanjian, the son of a mainland Chinese couple, after the infant had a seizure on December 22, 2009. On Friday, Sit’s counsel grilled nurse Ho Kit-ha, who was on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351376/medical-council-resumes-disciplinary-hearing-sparked-public-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351376/medical-council-resumes-disciplinary-hearing-sparked-public-outcry?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 14:46:25 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Health authorities will provide free measles vaccinations to Hong Kong airport workers from Friday, following the detection of three cases among aircraft maintenance staff. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) warned on Thursday of the “relatively high” risk of measles transmission at the aviation hub, citing the high volume of travellers passing through there and the sizeable proportion of non-local-born workers who might not have received measles jabs in childhood. “In order to prevent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351189/hong-kong-airport-staff-offered-free-measles-jabs-bid-prevent-outbreak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351189/hong-kong-airport-staff-offered-free-measles-jabs-bid-prevent-outbreak?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 11:52:14 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The first locally recorded case of dengue fever in Hong Kong in more than a year indicates that undiagnosed imported cases may lead to an outbreak in the coming months, a health official has warned, while stressing that the risk is preventable. The warning by Albert Au Ka-wing, head of the Centre for Health Protection’s communicable disease branch, came after the dengue fever case – involving a patient with no travel history – was recorded in Tai Po last Thursday. “The first local dengue fever... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350971/first-local-dengue-case-could-lead-outbreak-coming-months-health-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350971/first-local-dengue-case-could-lead-outbreak-coming-months-health-official-says?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:41:47 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong artiste Kristal Tin Yui-lee has revealed on social media that cancer cells were found in her lymph nodes, more than a year after being diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer, drawing renewed attention to the disease. A former leading actress at TVB after starting her career at the now defunct ATV, the 48-year-old has shifted her focus in recent years to screenplays and online media. She won the best lead actress award in 2024 for her role as a wife in Big Divorce Day, a theatre... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350692/second-cancer-shock-hong-kong-actress-kristal-tin-how-does-disease-strike?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350692/second-cancer-shock-hong-kong-actress-kristal-tin-how-does-disease-strike?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 20 Apr 2026 06:44:37 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Spinal muscular atrophy patients have urged the Hong Kong government to expand subsidised medicine options for adults to increase their chances for a better quality of life, with some saying their condition deteriorated after growing up without affordable care. Lui Man-lam, president of the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association, said at a press conference on Sunday that while oral medicine subsidies for those aged 25 or above were rolled out early this year, adult patients still lacked... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350640/hong-kongs-spinal-muscular-atrophy-patients-seek-aid-injection-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3350640/hong-kongs-spinal-muscular-atrophy-patients-seek-aid-injection-therapy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 19 Apr 2026 13:30:17 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Why do Hongkongers keep living longer and topping longevity tables? The proportion of those 85 and older is growing rapidly. Experts and older people themselves advance any number of explanations, including diet, exercise and a good health system. The question has also focused attention on the resilience of older Hongkongers – many of whom were survivors of wartime and post-war hardships. But if more elderly people continue to live longer and healthy lives, there may be more to it. In five years... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350436/hkust-study-decode-longevity-stuff-frontier-science?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3350436/hkust-study-decode-longevity-stuff-frontier-science?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Terry Lum Terry Lum In recent years, warnings about Hong Kong’s rapidly ageing population have become increasingly urgent. Long hospital waits, chronic shortages in long-term care and a shrinking working-age population have led many policymakers and researchers to portray ageing as an approaching demographic crisis that a small, densely populated city might be unable to absorb. In some quarters, this has fuelled dire predictions about the sustainability of Hong Kong’s healthcare and social care systems. This... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3350035/hong-kong-ageing-real-question-where-people-age?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has suspended all contractors’ access to patient data after a major leak affecting more than 56,000 patients, and is considering barring the company involved from bidding for future projects. But the authority on Thursday declined to say whether it would terminate the firm’s existing contracts or discipline any staff, citing an ongoing police probe. The authority confirmed earlier this month that personal data of more than 56,000 patients at United Christian... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350360/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-bars-all-contractors-access-data-after-leak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350360/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-bars-all-contractors-access-data-after-leak?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:40:49 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Discussion around death and funeral planning is considered inauspicious, even taboo, in Chinese society. That is why it did not figure prominently at the Smart Retirement Expo last weekend. Expo exhibitor and Minimal Funeral founder Pasu Ng Kwai-lun noted that his booth was “practically the only one” discussing death and funeral arrangements, despite the expo’s focus on retirement planning in an ageing society. However, attitudes have changed in recent years, he said, and people have grown more... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349606/ageing-hong-kong-should-welcome-more-open-conversations-around-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349606/ageing-hong-kong-should-welcome-more-open-conversations-around-death?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s public hospital operator has suspended a medical intern and launched an investigation following a complaint that patient information had been exposed on social media, just days after another doctor was dismissed in a separate but similar privacy controversy that triggered citywide concern. The Hospital Authority said on Saturday that the case involved an intern at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, who had since been temporarily taken off clinical duties. “As a provider of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349761/medical-intern-suspended-after-complaint-over-patient-data-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349761/medical-intern-suspended-after-complaint-over-patient-data-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:51:06 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu Hong Kong hairstylist Pitt Cheung Kwok-wai’s life took a sharp turn in 2020 when he was diagnosed with stage 3 nasopharyngeal cancer at the age of 38. “We never had cancer or serious illness in our family before, so it was very shocking,” Cheung says. Having treatment during the Covid-19 pandemic made the experience even more isolating, as it was difficult for friends and family members to visit him in hospital as he underwent several rounds of chemotherapy. Due to its prevalence in southern... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349452/hong-kong-hairstylists-cancer-battle-takes-him-and-his-brother-crowdfunding-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3349452/hong-kong-hairstylists-cancer-battle-takes-him-and-his-brother-crowdfunding-campaign?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 04:15:07 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying A nine-year-old Hong Kong girl has contracted a rare bacterial infection and is fighting for her life in hospital after visiting Japan during the Easter holiday, with health authorities contacting the other tour group members as a precaution. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Friday that the girl, who was in a critical condition in the paediatric intensive care unit of Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, began showing symptoms of invasive meningococcal infection including... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349708/girl-9-critical-condition-meningococcal-infection-after-holiday-japan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349708/girl-9-critical-condition-meningococcal-infection-after-holiday-japan?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:09:15 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s largest public hospital will open to patients in phases from October, with the new 2,400-bed facility in Kai Tak set to take over the services of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and become a healthcare hub for Kowloon. The Hospital Authority said on Friday that the first phase of services at Kai Tak Hospital, located on Shing Cheong Road in Kowloon Bay, would start in October. The new facility has a total gross floor area of 500,000 square metres, the largest among the city’s public... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349687/new-kai-tak-hospital-open-2-phases-october?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349687/new-kai-tak-hospital-open-2-phases-october?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 12:34:03 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong’s smoking rate fell to 8.5 per cent last year, missing an ambitious target of 7.8 per cent, but health authorities have hailed the success of the city’s tobacco control strategy, which led to a 30 per cent decline in overall cigarette consumption. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a Legislative Council meeting on Friday that the rate – the prevalence of daily cigarette smokers aged 15 and older in the population – had fallen from 9.1 per cent in 2023 to 8.5 per cent last year. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349681/health-chief-hails-tobacco-control-efforts-smoking-rate-falls-85?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349681/health-chief-hails-tobacco-control-efforts-smoking-rate-falls-85?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:30:19 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested an employee of a systems maintenance contractor hired by the Hospital Authority on suspicion of stealing the personal data of more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members. The arrest of a 30-year-old local man came just days after the authority reported on Saturday a suspected data leak involving patients in the Kowloon East group of hospitals on a third‑party platform, with police and the privacy watchdog investigating. Police revealed on Wednesday that more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:57:48 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has launched a five-year study into why Chinese people often enjoy long lifespans, and aims to recruit 500 residents aged 90 or older for biomarker analysis using advanced blood testing technologies. HKUST president Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, who is leading the research, said Hong Kong urgently needed to uncover the healthy ageing process as the city had become a “super-ageing society” in 2024 under UN standards, with more than 20 per cent... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349375/hkust-launches-5-year-study-long-lifespans-chinese-people?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349375/hkust-launches-5-year-study-long-lifespans-chinese-people?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:41:28 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has found a doctor breached its code of conduct after he posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a public hospital, with the case being passed to the Medical Council. The authority’s Kowloon West group of hospitals announced on Tuesday that it had terminated the doctor’s contract, one day after stating the man was “no longer an employee”. “The Kowloon West Cluster has completed its investigation into the incident. We confirm that the staff member breached... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349301/hong-kong-doctor-axed-posting-resuscitation-photo-faces-medical-council-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349301/hong-kong-doctor-axed-posting-resuscitation-photo-faces-medical-council-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:44:31 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Eight-year-old Aidan was terrified at the prospect of having to undergo an operation at the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital in Kowloon Bay in 2024. But his fears eased once he put on a virtual reality (VR) headset. Guided by a panda character, the VR programme gave him knowledge of what to expect. It allowed him to walk down the corridor and explore the operating theatre, pick the colours of medical staff’s gowns and choose how he wanted to be anaesthetised – down to the flavour of sleep-inducing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349175/hong-kong-hospital-uses-vr-tour-ease-childrens-fears-ahead-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 23:30:07 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Vaping is the bane of health and tobacco control authorities alike. The long-term health effects are still unfolding, and users of tobacco alternatives are more likely to eventually become addicted to tobacco smoking, whose harmful effects are well-established. Any development that reinforces those two messages, especially among young people, is an important contribution to community health. A case in point is a government reminder that from April 30, anyone found carrying more than five vape... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349127/vape-possession-ban-vital-protecting-hong-kongs-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349127/vape-possession-ban-vital-protecting-hong-kongs-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 22:45:12 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A doctor who posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a Hong Kong public hospital is no longer employed by the Hospital Authority, following an outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. The authority’s Kowloon West Cluster confirmed on Monday the doctor’s departure but did not say whether he had resigned or been dismissed. “The cluster had previously conducted a serious investigation and a comprehensive review of the incident. It confirmed that the individual involved is no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:30:57 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog and police are investigating a large-scale data leak involving more than 56,000 patients served by the Hospital Authority, which reported the unauthorised retrieval of a variety of information. The authority on Saturday apologised to affected victims – patients of hospitals in Kowloon East – for the breach that compromised their names, identity card numbers, genders, dates of birth, dates of hospital visits and details of surgical procedures, among other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349020/probe-launched-after-hospital-authority-data-breach-involving-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349020/probe-launched-after-hospital-authority-data-breach-involving-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:55:14 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, has grown to more than 50 million globally. Scientists around the world continue to seek a cure for the disease, while working to develop drugs that can delay the onset of symptoms and slow its progression. Early diagnosis, allowing careful plans to be made for the treatment and care of sufferers, is essential. Many people are unaware they have the disease. But screening has been expensive and invasive. A... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348884/hong-kongs-world-first-alzheimers-blood-test-will-strengthen-citys-healthcare?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348884/hong-kongs-world-first-alzheimers-blood-test-will-strengthen-citys-healthcare?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong is committed to helping mainland China’s medical and health standards “go global”, with a local minister hailing the city’s first time hosting a national medical conference as an event of “great significance”. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong was striving to meet the mainland’s certification requirements for a local stroke centre, following the accreditation of a heart disease treatment facility under national standards last year. Lo officiated at the opening of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:31:23 +0000 Anthea Rowan Anthea Rowan In the second of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Anthea Rowan examines the complexities of the autism spectrum, from the latest gut-health research to the move from awareness towards acceptance. While at university studying psychology and theatre, Dr Amanda Oswalt Visher worked with a three-year-old non-speaking autistic boy at an early childhood intervention centre. She noticed his movements were not random but followed a consistent pattern. To communicate... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348374/what-autism-understanding-spectrum-gut-brain-connection-masking-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3348374/what-autism-understanding-spectrum-gut-brain-connection-masking-and-more?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:00:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A knife-wielding attacker with suspected mental illness who was shot twice by police in Hong Kong’s Kwai Chung has died after 10 days in hospital in a critical condition. The government on Tuesday confirmed the 43-year-old suspect, surnamed Chung, was pronounced dead at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung at 8.47pm on Monday. The incident occurred in the early hours of March 21 at the Kwai Chung section of Castle Peak Road, when three officers fired five rounds in total at the construction... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348463/knife-wielding-man-shot-hong-kong-police-dies-after-10-days-critical-condition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3348463/knife-wielding-man-shot-hong-kong-police-dies-after-10-days-critical-condition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:05:37 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying An orthopaedist has been issued a public warning letter and reprimanded by Hong Kong’s medical watchdog after performing an unconventional bunion surgery without a patient’s informed consent. The Medical Council on Monday found Dr Daniel Wu Yiang guilty of professional misconduct on four charges after the patient at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital underwent a syndesmosis procedure, a soft-tissue bunion surgery advocated by the doctor, without sufficient information about the operation or any... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348419/orthopaedist-rebuked-over-performing-bunion-surgery-without-informed-consent?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:55:09 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun In the first of a series on challenges facing Hong Kong’s growing autistic population, Fiona Sun examines how the city can mobilise stronger support from the private sector to turn systemic hurdles into opportunities. Hong Kong parent Raymond Lam Yiu-wah says caring for his five-year-old autistic son has been a constant source of stress, as the boy requires his full attention. The 42-year-old auditor said his son, diagnosed with autism at the age of two, had yet to speak in full sentences and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348304/hong-kongs-autism-support-services-are-fragmented-can-private-sector-help?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:30:13 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A probe has been launched into a serious medical incident in which a six‑year‑old boy’s heart stopped for about 16 minutes at Hong Kong Children’s Hospital after his breathing tube came loose from the ventilator. The hospital on Saturday said it was “deeply concerned” about the case. “The hospital has taken immediate measures to strengthen the monitoring of patients requiring ventilator care in the intensive care unit,” it said in a statement. “A root cause analysis panel will be set up to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348267/boys-heart-stops-16-minutes-after-tube-comes-loose-hong-kong-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348267/boys-heart-stops-16-minutes-after-tube-comes-loose-hong-kong-hospital?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Mar 2026 15:20:24 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial There is a growing need to address the lack of regular exercise among Hong Kong students. Turning back the clock to more physically active childhoods is not an option. Without action at home and school to maintain physical activity amid a digital lifestyle, today’s schoolchildren face a greater risk – and an earlier onset – of ill health. A government report for the 2024-25 school year says about 94 per cent of students do not get enough moderate to vigorous exercise, recommended for at least an... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3348097/ounce-obesity-prevention-worth-kilo-cure-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Mar 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The government’s new Action Plan on Weight Management aims to build a “healthier and more vibrant city” and its cross-sector approach is commendable. However, the citywide plan seems to be heavily anchored on a single Body Mass Index (BMI) data point. This risks sending a narrow... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347711/hong-kongs-weight-management-plan-bmi-should-be-one-data-point-among-many?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3347711/hong-kongs-weight-management-plan-bmi-should-be-one-data-point-among-many?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A university in Hong Kong has launched an Alzheimer’s disease screening programme using locally developed blood-based testing technology – the first of its kind globally – which is expected to benefit 6,000 underprivileged elderly people over five years. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting one in 10 Hongkongers aged 60 or above, with prevalence increasing with age, according to a Department of Health report last year. Announcing the “NeuroCare Community Project” on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347591/hkust-launches-programme-offering-alzheimers-blood-based-test-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347591/hkust-launches-programme-offering-alzheimers-blood-based-test-elderly?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 10:04:04 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Tuen Mun Hospital has, for the first time in Hong Kong, used a non-invasive, MRI-guided ultrasound procedure to treat a Parkinson’s disease patient suffering from uncontrollable tremors, offering an alternative option for those affected by the condition. The hospital said it expected to provide the procedure to 40 patients within two years as part of further research into the new treatment. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, incisionless procedure that uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:37 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has launched an investigation into the controversy over a social media image posted by a doctor showing him performing a resuscitation procedure inside a public hospital, sparking outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. Jensen So, a doctor from the Kowloon West Cluster and a former contestant on ViuTV’s reality talent show King Maker III, posted the image on his Instagram account last Thursday. It has since been widely circulated on another social... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347463/hospital-authority-investigates-privacy-concerns-over-doctors-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347463/hospital-authority-investigates-privacy-concerns-over-doctors-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 06:18:23 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s medical insurance sector is walking something of a tightrope of late, buffeted by an ageing population and increasing demands from international markets. Finding a healthy balance will be vital for the city’s growth as a global financial hub. It is good that the Insurance Authority has pledged to undertake an in-depth analysis this year of medical insurance costs and available products, as well as review regulations to draw more international life insurance buyers. Clement Lau... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346965/medical-insurance-review-timely-move-sector-under-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346965/medical-insurance-review-timely-move-sector-under-pressure?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Self-regulation by a profession serving the public is fine, so long as it truly serves the public interest in practice. Otherwise it risks undermining public confidence. A case in point is the Medical Council of Hong Kong’s handling of public complaints. The Ombudsman has criticised its lengthy process, highlighting 11 cases that remained unresolved after more than a decade. The council is mostly made up of doctors. One case that caused a public outcry, an alleged medical blunder that left a boy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu About 94 per cent of Hong Kong’s students do not get enough daily exercise and 17.5 per cent are overweight, authorities have warned, urging schools and parents to tackle the growing fitness crisis together. A government report released on Tuesday also flagged low fruit and vegetable intake, poor vision health and excessive recreational screen time among students. The findings were based on surveys and annual health assessments conducted by the Department of Health for the 2024-25 school year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346918/94-hong-kong-students-are-couch-potatoes-175-overweight-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346918/94-hong-kong-students-are-couch-potatoes-175-overweight-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:39:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed replacing Medical Council members who underperform rather than punishing them as part of an overhaul following a public outcry over a 15-year delay in an alleged medical blunder inquiry. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday the government had no plans to impose rigid deadlines for each stage of complaint handling by the quasi-judicial body, saying the requirement was “asking the impossible” and the council would “be required to” set time... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:35:44 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The serious threat to health posed by obesity is a growing global problem, with more than a billion people around the world suffering from the disease. Hong Kong faces a challenge in reversing the worrying trend, which has seen the proportion of residents who are obese or overweight rise from 37.2 per cent in 2004 to 51.3 per cent in 2022. Action is needed. The city’s first comprehensive plan on weight management was launched by the government on March 4, to coincide with World Obesity Day. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346453/hong-kongs-war-obesity-will-result-healthier-society?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346453/hong-kongs-war-obesity-will-result-healthier-society?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 23:15:09 +0000 Ambrose Li,William Yiu Ambrose Li,William Yiu Hong Kong’s physiotherapy sector has urged the government to expand employment opportunities for locally trained professionals, warning that severe funding cuts will lead to a glut of practitioners, with the surplus projected to exceed 2,000 by 2040. In a letter to the authorities, the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association pointed to hiring freezes and job losses at NGOs as a result of budget cuts, even as the government continued to subsidise the training of physiotherapists. “These developments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:20:07 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Nearly 90 per cent of Hong Kong smokers cannot distinguish smuggled cigarettes from duty-paid ones under the government’s proposed plain packaging measures, a survey by an advocacy group has found. The Long-term Tobacco Policy Concern Group also urged authorities on Thursday to expand the function of the tobacco stamp duty system to allow consumers to scan QR codes and verify whether a pack had been taxed. “With the current packaging, consumers can tell if a pack is taxed based on the brand... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346327/group-warns-plain-packs-hinder-hongkongers-efforts-detect-smuggled-cigarettes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346327/group-warns-plain-packs-hinder-hongkongers-efforts-detect-smuggled-cigarettes?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 06:53:32 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities plan to expand a pilot programme to cut the transfer time by 80 minutes for patients suffering from serious strokes to public hospitals equipped with relevant surgical facilities. The Hospital Authority said on Wednesday that the diversion programme, which was launched in December and is currently only available in the New Territories, would be gradually expanded to the whole city after sufficient data had been collected. Before the pilot scheme’s launch, ambulances would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346255/hong-kong-expand-scheme-cutting-stroke-patient-transfer-time-80-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346255/hong-kong-expand-scheme-cutting-stroke-patient-transfer-time-80-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:01:57 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong is well served by its two traditional medical schools. A third school taking shape at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will add an innovative dimension to healthcare as well as a welcome boost to the supply of doctors. An emphasis on biotechnology and research, and the school’s ultimate location in the Northern Metropolis, near the Shenzhen tech hub, will foster partnerships and collaboration with the rest of the Greater Bay Area. The first intake of 50 students at... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345719/medical-schools-biotech-focus-will-boost-hong-kongs-innovation-push?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 22:45:14 +0000 Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Isabel Chau Paul Yip,Raymond Lap-Ming Tang,Isabel Chau Hong Kong’s new budget is positioned to foster high-quality, inclusive growth through innovation and finance. Ahead of projections, a surplus of HK$2.9 billion (US$370.8 million) is now expected, largely due to the stronger-than-expected stock market and tax receipts. Reflecting a sound fiscal approach and forward thinking, the 2026-27 budget will maintain an operating surplus and allocate about 60 per cent of recurrent spending to vital sectors such as health, social welfare and education. The... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3345183/why-hong-kong-must-make-mental-health-immediate-economic-priority?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Mar 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Authorities have launched an investigation into a potential food poisoning cluster that has affected 53 trainees understood to be from the Hong Kong Police College. The Department of Health said on Saturday that 48 male and five female trainees, aged 20 to 40, had developed symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting and fever since Thursday evening. It did not name the police college in its statement, only referring to the location as a training institute. A source confirmed to the South... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345824/health-authorities-probe-possible-food-poisoning-cluster-police-college?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345824/health-authorities-probe-possible-food-poisoning-cluster-police-college?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 12:12:01 +0000 Edith Lin,William Yiu Edith Lin,William Yiu A Hong Kong hospital has launched an investigation after an elderly patient with colon cancer died three weeks after surgeons carried out a medical procedure on the wrong organ. Tseung Kwan O Hospital said on Friday the 85-year-old patient died on Tuesday after undergoing stoma surgery on February 7. The procedure involved creating a surgical opening on the abdomen, known as a stoma, to alleviate an intestinal obstruction. In the time between the operation and her death, the patient was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345683/hong-kong-cancer-patient-dies-3-weeks-after-incorrect-incision-abdomen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345683/hong-kong-cancer-patient-dies-3-weeks-after-incorrect-incision-abdomen?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 06:05:00 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung One in three Hong Kong adults have moderate to severe symptoms of depression, almost triple the rate from 2012, with Generation Z respondents who spent a lot of time on screens affected the most, a survey has found. The biennial study, conducted by the Mental Health Association NGO and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), also found that 22 per cent of the 2,700 adult respondents turned to AI chatbots to manage their stress, which experts on Thursday described as “risky” as this could... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345606/warning-over-screen-time-and-chatbots-number-depressed-hits-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3345606/warning-over-screen-time-and-chatbots-number-depressed-hits-record-high?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:45:15 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong has launched its first action plan on weight management, aiming to reduce the proportion of people who are overweight or obese to less than half the population in three years from the current 51.3 per cent of adults. On Wednesday, World Obesity Day, the Department of Health announced more than 40 measures, ranging from installing more weighing scales in government venues to exploring the inclusion of novel weight-loss injections in the drug formulary, in a bid to reverse the rising... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3345436/hong-kong-launches-3-year-action-plan-help-residents-fight-flab?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:48:43 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung This series is based on our reporting on TCM: its history, treatments and growing acceptance around the world. This is the seventh instalment. In the world of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), few remedies carry the legendary status – or the hefty price tag – of Angong Niuhuang Wan, often referred to as the “miracle pill”. The old formula, consisting of 11 herbs and minerals, has long been revered as a top-grade emergency medicine, historically used to treat those who have had a stroke or may... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344680/how-tcms-miracle-pill-used-treat-strokes-experts-urge-caution?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 23:15:08 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung Mui Thomas is, by any measure, a remarkable woman. Now 33, she is believed to be the world’s fourth-oldest survivor of Harlequin ichthyosis. This extremely rare genetic disorder causes the body to be covered with thick plates of skin – a condition so severe that when Mui was born in Hong Kong in 1992, it was considered universally fatal. She has survived medical emergencies that would have killed lesser fighters. Despite her ongoing health struggles, she has become a rugby coach, a certified... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344406/parents-hong-kongs-girl-behind-face-share-their-story-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3344406/parents-hong-kongs-girl-behind-face-share-their-story-first-time?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Feb 2026 03:00:10 +0000